Boss Frog

Boss Frog Clearview

UPDATE: I contacted Ric Joranlien at Boss Frog, and told him about the problems with the initial rollbar I received. He was very quick to get back to me. He thought the bar must have been damaged in shipping, and based on the replacement he sent me, I am sure that was the problem.
Ric sent me the replacement bar via FedEx. It arrived in 3-4 days. He asked me to pack up the old bar in the packaging the new one came in. I contacted him when the old one was packed up, and he arranged for a FedEx pickup. No cost to me, and no fuss at all (I left it on my porch and they came and got it).
When I finally got around to installing the new bar, the difference was night and day. The new bar lined up and fit with very little effort, and installation, while not exactly a breeze, went smoothly and as expected. The final result was a solid rollbar that took around 4 or 5 hours to install. In theory it can be uninstalled readily, but enough permanent changes were made that I would not install the bar unless I planned on it being there for the life of the car. The holes (obviously), the cutting of the carpet and trim, and the removal (cutting off) of the stock seatbelt guides are all irreversible. Also, I regret that I did not replace my faded seatbelts prior to installing the bar, as the bar would have to be completely removed should I ever need to get at the seatbelt reels. The dealer wanted $700+ for new parts, so I kept the old belts. If you can spare the money, though, this is definitely something to consider. Anyway, having seen the quality of the undamaged bar, !
and having dealt with Ric and his excellent customer service, I would highly recommend Boss Frog products in the future.

Difficult to remove without leaving damage

Boss Frog Clearview Max

I purchased a Clearview Max a few months ago, and with warm weather here again, I am just now getting around to installing it.
NOTE: I have not yet installed this bar. Problems with fit have stalled me at the test-fitting stage. However, these issues are significant enough that they warrant this review.
I have to say, I am unimpressed with this product. That is putting it mildly.
This bar is "designed" with 4 hard points that attach to existing bolt holes on the car.
Great concept, horrible execution.
When I test fitted the bar, no two holes lined up at the same time. Any time one hole was lined up, the bar was off center.
The holes that bolt to the seatbelt towers are too far forward. When the bar is shoved backward enough for the holes to be in line with the seatbelt towers, the front feet lift off the bulkhead lip.
In addition, the interior plates that attach to the front feet are at an angle that is neither parallel, nor even close to the bulkhead! On the passenger side, the lower two holes on the plate are at least 3/4 of an inch away from the bulkhead.
While we're on the subject, why do they even use bolt-on plates at all? Wouldn't it be easier (and stronger) to just weld a longer plate on the foot?
The instructions warn that adjustments may be required, but when every single hole needs modification, where do you start?
Also, widening the holes to allow for necessary travel is fine, but with so much widening required, I'm afraid that the strength of the attachment points will be reduced to a dangerous degree.
It seems it would make sense for Boss Frog to knock together some kind of a jig that could guarantee a little uniformity in the finished product. Why haven't they?
Based upon what I've seen,quality control is so poor that I am starting to have misgivings about entrusting my safety to this product.
Since Boss Frog has established an excellent reputation within the Miata community, I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt assume this bar is a one-off glitch.
I have contacted Boss Frog, and will update this review as things develop.

Difficult to remove without leaving damage

Boss Frog Double Maxx

I was warned that some shipping damage might occur, but the bars showed up in perfect condition. Silver powdercoat was even and smooth, very professionally done. All necessary hardware was present.
The directions were clear and easy to understand, with the exception of the inner panel cutting info. All bolt holes lined up properly, hardware was top quality, and the bars were simple to install with the exception of the back mounting hole on the outside top mount. That one was not fun. Rerouting the wires for the ABS and defroster was time consuming, but not a big deal.
The only real issue I have with this product is the vague and confusing info on cutting the interior panels to fit the bar. The inclusion of some pics of a finished installation would have made a huge difference. I spent about 4 hours just cutting the panels and making sure that they would align without looking wrong, completely unnecessary waste of time.

Really well made product, and worth the money. There is an improvement in the stiffness of the car afetr installation. I beleive this is the result of having a huge cross bar to tie both sides of the car together. Aside from the hassle with the plastic panels mentioned above, a very simple installation.

Difficult to remove without leaving damage

Boss Frog Clearview Maxx

I installed this in about 5 hours. The instructions were good though some better
pictures would help. The only problems I had were wqhen I didn't read the step
through first. I am impressed with the quality of this roll bar. I ran an autocross
after the install and feel that it stiffened up my miata's handling.

Boss Frog Clearview Maxx Black

This is the newest version of the their single hoop roll bar. The seats can
move to any position and the top works fine but I can't use a hard top.

Where to begin? I've never done a car project this involved before. It took
me about 10 hours of work myself with about six of those including a friend.
The hardest part was getting the 4 main bolt locations to line up. My suggestion
would be to buy a Dremmel if you don't already have one. I used it to grind
away material from various locations. I used it to trim the package tray and
seatbelt tower trim. Now that it's installed, I'm very happy with it. It arrived
unscathed, I wish I could say the same about it now. Actually, it still looks
pretty good and I intend to get the padding and cover.

I love the way it looks - I like the classic roadster look of the single bar.
The bar has reduced body flex from the rear, now I need something for the front
end. The added safety, performance and good looks makes the work worth while.
I would do it all again - in less time now that I know what I'm doing. I hope
this was helpful.

Difficult to remove without leaving damage

Boss Frog

I did this install by myself and it is quite involved but certainly worth the
effort. I installed the roll bar in about six hours total give or take some
breaks (all day). The instructions are rather straight forward although I thought
about it later, some more pictures of things would help. The fit and finish
of this bar is exceptional and to design it to mount to four existing threaded
points, plus catch two more holes is pretty amazing. What I haven't told you
is getting the bar in is only half (maybe more) the problem. I spent the better
part of Day two doing the fit and finish of the parts you have to remove just
to get the bar in. I followed their instructions on cutting the plastic tower
covers and was less than satisfied with the driver side. If you move slightly
out of the inside corner (toward the bar) and make your first cut it fits much
better. I was real happy about the passenger side. I also cut the plastic tower
covers with a sharp utility knife and it gave! a very smooth cut. BE CAREFUL
that is a sharp knife, and change the blade often.

I am very happy with the extra safety feature of this product and the look
is fantastic. I didn't get a chance to put her through her paces last night
but just the ride to town I could have sworn the car was stiffer. Maybe just
knowing there is this thick heavy bar around my head gave me that feeling. This
is the only bar I would buy for looks and safety. Now it's off to the track....

I chose this product for 3 reasons. 1-I wanted a bar that would be SCCA Solo
1 approved. 2-I wanted a bar to give me (and my wife) some security confidence
while driving around town. 3-I wanted a bar that would allow me to put the top
up and down while sitting in the driver's seat. The BSP bar has a very obtrusive
diagonal, severely impacting the view from the rear mirror. The HD HardCore
bar fits the bill, but the diagonals are too close together, making it difficult
to operate the top from the seat and also making it difficult to see out the
back. The BF double hoop bar also fits the bill well (and probably looks a little
better), but the position of the driver's hoop would make it tough to reach
the top while sitting in the driver's seat. I also like the silver powdercoat
option and the fact that the bar has been destructively tested. Even though
it's a single hoop, it's still very easy to raise/lower the top w/o getting
out of the car. Overall the instructions! were great, although I had to enlarge
2 holes where the bar attaches to the upper seat belt tower. Not a problem w/
a dremmel. Also I was not able to reinstall the factory seatbelt tower brace.
Maybe it would have fit w/ the Maxx version, but I wanted the standard version
because it allows fitment of a hardtop and I'm only 5'5" anyway. My seat doesn't
even come close to touching the bar. In the end the car is much stiffer. I noticed
the different when hitting bumps in the road and on the autox course. The bar
also looks very tough. BTW, the bar shipped to me at 55 pounds, so the total
added weight to the vehicle is about 50 pounds. The only real issue I had w/
the bar was that my glass window (Duetto no-zip glass) doesn't fit between the
diagonals. It does fit between the rear supports, so I am able to push the glass
around the diagonals and get the glass to lay flat. It's a small inconvenience,
but something to be aware of.

Some installation notes: For the best possible seatbelt retraction, the tops
of the seatbelt retractors should be tilted inwards (the top bolts are moved
about 1" to the inside of the car). I installed the Boss Frog seatbelt adaptors
as well. I'm not sure how much those helped though. The seatbelt retracted OK
at best. I then discovered a good trick; use a zip tie wrapped only around the
roll bar so that the slack of the zip tie (the part you would normally cut off)
keeps the seat belt from twisting and getting wedged against the bar. Kind of
like a guide. It's difficult to explain this, but it's actually very simple.
I'll try to post a picture in the forums, but I'd be happy to receive email
requests for a picture of the setup. This significantly improved seatbelt retraction.
In the end it's still not perfect, but definitely livable. I would also recommend
taking your time to install the plastic trim panels. Try to understand (by test
fitting) what is actuall! y happening BEFORE you cut anything.

Boss Frog Double Hoop Windblock

This product is a nice weight and thickness and mates well with the roll bar.
I installed it quickly with the supplied Velcro and a little extra I had from
another project.

This did an amazing job of cutting down the buffeting in the cabin at speed.
We were up to 75 mph and the reduction in noise and buffeting was amazing. This
definitely has the wife seal of approval. We were able to carry on a conversation
and hear the stereo clearly without shouting or cranking up the volume. There
is still a nice breeze in the cabin without the gust. I also felt like my cap
was not constantly in danger of lifting off of my head. Even works with the
windows down. The wind block has a nice geometry and is nice and clear. The
styling fits well with the roll bar and compliments the cabin. I highly recommend
it for both styling and functionality.

Under 30 minutes to remove completely

Boss Frog double hoop

I installed this bar myself a few months ago. The installation was pretty involved,
and took a while to get everything right. The bar bolts into four existing threaded
holes in the car, and getting those lined up with the bar can be very hard.
The finish is pretty good, although I'd like to go over it again to polish it
even more. The stainless finish seems to me to have some shinier and some duller
spots. The bar looks fantastic in the car though, and you couldn't really tell
any difference in finish without looking closely. Overall I'm not sure installing
this bar was a good thing to do. While there's no doubt it's a substantial bar
and would provide good protection in a rollover, it's probably caused more problems
than it's solved. First off, the diagonal brace limits seat travel substantially.
A notch or two more than the cross brace that came on '94-'97 cars. So, that
means I have my seat pretty much as far back as possible when driving. (I'm
under six foot! , but it depends on seating preference, I don't like to be cramped.)
This creates the problem of having steel tubing bolted to the car's frame all
around your head while driving. That will not be good in a rear end accident.
So, I'm considering buying some rollbar padding for the front of each hoop and
diagonal brace, which will of course cover up a lot of the stainless finish
I paid such a premium to have. Then you have the problem of the seatbelts. The
way the guides are re-positioned with the bar means that they don't retract
very well at all. Boss Frog just recently came out with a set of replacement
seatbelt guides that helps this problem to an extent. I installed these, but
it turns out I got a defective set that have exposed sharp edges and have frayed
an edge on my driver's side seatbelt (which by the way would need an entire
hoop of the rollbar taken out to replace.) In all fairness though, Boss Frog
is a great company since they sent me a new set of guides ! for free, which
seem a little better, but I may still wrap th! e questionable area with tape
to smooth the edges. Whatever seatbelt guides you use however, will dig into
the sides of the stock seat headrests and squeak if they're leather seats. I
also just discovered that some of the undercoating I applied to the floor mounting
points of the rollbar is coming off since those mounting points are so exposed
to the elements, so I'll have to try to fix that to keep water away from the
holes I drilled. In the end I'm probably still happy I installed the bar since
it just looks so great on the car, much better than a tacky style bar. It's
one of only two real double hoop bars made for the Miata that I know of. It's
also very substantial and stiffens up the chassis a lot. However, don't expect
everything in the car to work perfectly just as it did before you put in the
bar.

Boss Frog
Double Hoop Roll Bar

[4/12/2005] Reviewed by: Rick Szumski

Applicable to: '99 + 1.8 liter

Boss Frog Double Hoop Roll Bar with black finish

I installed it myself taking as much time as I needed (16 hours). The instructions
were good, but about 10% of the things you'll just have to figure out yourself.
The installation was long but not difficult. I am very pleased with the result.

I have no experience with any other roll bars, but as a mechanical engineer
working in the auto industry I can say this. The bar is beautiful and has loads
of structural integrity. I am extremely pleased with the product, instructions,
and final result. I don't know how they can improve this product, great looks
and all the structure a roll bar should have.

Difficult to remove without leaving damage

Boss Frog
Double Hoop roll bar

[6/11/2005] Reviewed by: James Berube - jber0266@postoffice.uri.edu

Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 +

The Boss Frog Double Hoop roll bar is a piece of safety hardware that no Miata
should be without. It is manufactured from 1.75in DOM mild steel (powerdercoated
black or bare) or stainless steel and TIG welded together, forming three distinct
pieces to assemble within the bounds of the body. It includes all Grade 8 hardware,
backing plates and bolt covers to finish it off.

As my buddy asked me yesterday,"The Miata doesn't come with that?"
seems the perfect testament to the fit and finish of this bar. It looks like
a factory piece, and should have been included instead of the useless windblocker
on the NB models. No less than 20 bolts attach the bar and saddle to the car
in various places to promote structural rigidity. There is no comparison in
chassis stiffness before and after, as most of the wiggles and jiggles have
been quelled over all but the most relentless surfaces. There is the strongest
roll bar I've seen, aside from a full cage, yet allows full range of motion
for in-car top movement, glass clearance and hardtop clearance. Most importantly
is that the bar has been tested and approved by the SCCA and FIA for sanctioned
racing; it has undergone destructive testing to seek approval, like all bars
should but don't. Testing makes the product superior, as it is proven to hold
together long after the car is destroyed.! For $513 w/ tax and shipped, it is
a bargain and is worth your neck in a roll-over situation or side-impact.

Installation takes 6-8h, depending on your alacrity, people helping you, the
weather, beer supply, etc. Trim fitment is about the only difficult step, as
it pays off getting the interior pieces to fit snugly. One note that I'd like
to make that the instructions didn't include in the template is that you must
notch out a section of the side trim panels for the pad that attaches to the
bulkhead below the seat belt retractors. The hoop welds to a horizontal pad
that extends past the vertical pad which bolts to the bulkhead, where the two
bolts come through the inner fender, and this horizontal pad will not allow
the trim panel to fit without notching it out about a half inch by an eigth.
It's not hard to figure out once you see what's going on, but it is important
to note, as the panel will not fit without this adjustment. As stated before,
this part should have come with the car stock, as it is far superior to the
tower bar on earlier NA cars and tosses t! he useless windblocker on the NB
models. The best upgrade to do first when you've picked up your Miata.

Difficult to remove without leaving damage

Boss Frog
Double Hoop Bar Pads

[3/13/2005] Reviewed by: Hal McGee - wmcgee@triad.rr.com

Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter

Boss Frog Double Hoop Roll Bar Pads

This is two pads shaped to fit the Boss Frog Double Hoop roll bar. They are
designed to protect against impact in a crash, not to be soft to the touch.
If they were soft to the touch, there would not be much crash protection. They
attach with double sided tape to the bar. You must allow three days for this
to completely attach. The ends still do not quite attach using this so I used
long ty-wraps to clamp these down. Finish is a matte black which matches well
with the bar. Fit was close enough that I could easily make the final contours
without having to bend the pads.

I discovered my need for these at my first Autocross. First thing the helmet
did was bang against the bar! I ordered these from Go-Miata the night I got
home. Although my seat is adjusted away from the bar, I felt like in a severe
crash such as a rollover, the occupant would be tossed around and may deflect
the seat enough to strike the bar. These would provide enough protection to
significantly improve survivabilty in my opinion. (Bad headache versus concussion
or worse) Any roll bar should have padding of this type if this is a concern.

Under 5 minutes to remove

Boss Frog

[10/26/2004] Reviewed by: Ralph Martini - ralph_martini@hotmail.com

Applicable to: '90 - '97

Boss Frog Double Hoop Rollbar

Excellent, strongly recommended

After doing my research I ordered the Boss Frog double hoop roll bar. I was
impressed that Boss Frog was the only firm that had its products submitted for
actual simultaneous load testing, supervised by an independent engineer. I decided
to have the bar installed by a Miata specialist. This was their first Boss Frog
install. When I went to pick it up the owner said "You have done your research
well. We have installed Hard Dog for years and I like the brand, but you have
made me a Boss Frog convert. As a mechanic and a racer I am telling you that
the Boss Frog product is superior and could actually protect you in a crash,
due to its heavy duty saddle that connects the roll bar to the floor, and the
six backer plates that mount to the exterior of the undercarriage, and extended
mounts (etc.) it is really impressive". He then took me into the shop where
he had a Hard Dog double hoop, which appeared to me to be 50% less product,
kind of like getting the torso without the legs.

Over 30 minutes to remove completely

Boss Frog
Double Hoop Roll Bar

[8/15/2004] Reviewed by: Hal McGee - wmcgee@triad.rr.com

Applicable to: '90 - '97

Roll Bar in Double Hoop design

I am very pleased with this product. The product arrived intact in the box.
The box had some transit bumps and bruises but was completely intact. Appears
Boss Frog is doing a better job at packaging their product. The box was reinforced
at the edges in the interior. Given the off-center center of gravity and odd
size of the contents, I would say they did a very good job of designing packaging
and packing the bar. Read the instructions carefully. This is a two person job
at certain points, my wife and 13 year old son were able to help. If this is
your first time working with sheet metal, practice a little on a tin can. I
didn't and my first cut is a little jagged. Also, I found the 12 inch 5/16 drill
bit to be undersized and had to redrill the holes from the bottom with the 3/8
drill bit. As a final note, the last bolt sheared as I was torquing it to the
recommended 50 ft/lbs. I am almost through with the install, but have driven
it for three weeks now.

The car feels much more solid. I feel much safer as does the wife. The seat
belt retraction is taking some getting used to. The best method I have found
so far is to pull the belt direct in front of you so that your hand is directly
in front of your face and then let the belt retract. A woman at work used the
instructions I printed off from the Team Miata web site and resewed my boot.
This looks like a factory job now. I have found it very difficult to zip and
unzip the rear window. There is a finger (1/2 inch) thickness of clearance between
the bar and frame of the top. Definitely strengthened the frame of the car.
Fills in for the "missing" B-Pillar. Got rid of a lot of the squeaks
and rattles. I highly recommend this to everyone as it definitely makes the
car safer, is a real roll bar, and improves the handling by providing structural
support in the rear.

Difficult to remove without leaving damage

Boss Frog
Double hoop roll bar

[7/7/2004] Reviewed by: Bill McNeil - wmcneil@writeme.com

Applicable to: '99 + 1.8 liter

Boss Frog Double-Hoop Black-Powder Coat Roll Bar

Product arrived wrapped in pretty-much bomb-proof padding....Excellent instructions....Do
not hesitate to grind out the holes in the roll bar slightly in order to get
the seat belt bolts to start. I spent forever trying to get the bars to fit
before I did this....Get a 12" drill bit, it is worth it.....Do not make
any cuts on the trim panels, other than the initial vertical cut, until you
have held them in their approximate final positions and had a look at what more
needs cutting....I took me way more than 8 hours to install, I wasted a lot
of time before I realized I had to grind out the holes mentioned above...I am
very pleased with the final result...Drivers seat will not go quite all the
way back when inclined the way I like it. 2001 with high back seats.

Difficult to remove without leaving damage

Boss Frog
Double hoop roll bar

[9/30/2003] Reviewed by: Tim Coughlin - tcoughli@fluids.ittind.com

Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter

Double hoop, SCCA legal, engineered and TESTED roll bar

Product arrived in a mangled box, but the bar was not damaged.
It was packed and padded well. More than enough hardware was supplied. The workmanship
is excellent and the bar fit very well. The instructions were very clear. Installation
took about 6 hours. Take my advice and use a 3/8" 12" long drill bit
where required. It cost about $12.00 and will make the install much easier.

The bar looks great! The added stiffness to the body is very
noticable. It actually got rid of the most of the little body squeeks and rattles.
I like the fact that this bar gives you the protection that you need but doesn't
get in the way of raising the top while sitting in the driver seat. ( I live
in Louisiana and it can rain at anytime without notice.) The only thing that
I can say is less then preferable is that the seat belts don't retract as well
as before. Check it out. http://www.geocities.com/lsvtec/IMG_3484.JPG Looks
good.

Difficult to remove without leaving damage

Boss Frog Double
hoop roll bar

[8/16/2003] Reviewed by: Dennis Buggs
- Buggs67@att.net

Applicable to: '99 + 1.8 liter

Black Powder coat roll bar

A very substantial product. 6 point mounting;each
side of gas tank each inside corner by tunnel, and each side at the seatbelt
towers. Conclusion: worth the money for the peace of mind and safety and the
installation is fun if you like wrenching. If you are only after "the look",
get a style bar. You're welcome to e-mail me w/ questions

First the downs. The seat belt mount
is a little indirect so the seatbelt doesn't come out or retract as well (minor).
Arrived with the box broken open and there were some minor divots in the paint,
most out of sight (minor). BF needs to better package the unit for shipping.
I have an '02 SE which has high back seats. The top of the seat hits the rear
support and so limits seat travel and recline (about 2' in travel with the seat
slightly reclined. If you have lower seats or don't recline it might not be
a problem. I'm 5'11' and this is borderline. My hardware pack was missing some
washers and had extra bolts, nuts and trim pieces (BFD). Ups: this is a solid
chunk of steel! The hoops go over my head and way over the Bn'C's head (5'2").
The car looks great with it installed, and I'm certain this will give protection
in a rollover and also in a side impact (t-bone).

Difficult to remove without leaving damage

[4/21/2003] Reviewed
by: Mike Nicholson - tnicholson@scu.edu

Boss Frog double
hoop roll bar powdercoated black

I was one of the
first to recieve this bar and have had it on for a couple months now. I consider
it the best modification that I have made to the car to date.

The product is an
excellent piece of metal. The welds are strong and very smooth making for a
great appearance. The overall weight is less than I expected. The backing plates
for the roll bar bolts are a great touch as they distribute the force of any
impacts during a rollover. The installation was long, the directions were some
of the best I've seen and I was never wondering about what to do next. The backing
plates came in handy again here as they acted as stencils for the drilling of
the holes in some of the tight spots. Its now been on for one Miata Performance
Driving School, and several mountain road drives. It significantly added to
the rigidity over the previously installed racing beat style bar, which I was
not expecting, and it is very sturdily bolted into the frame. I am confident
it would offer protection during a rollover. It is also a great place to grab
for a quick jump into the car when the top is down.

Difficult to remove
without leaving damage

Boss Frog Double
Hoop Roll Bar

[3/10/2003] Reviewed
by: Tim Tope - ttope@rrcol.com

Applicable to: '90
- '97 1.6 liter 1.8 liter

Boss Frog Double
Hoop Roll Bar

The bars arrived
earlier than they said they would. They were shipped FedEX ground. The box was
mangled badly. Had some scratches on one bar. The bars took about 8 hours to
install (I took my time). Good instructions. Called for a 12" drill bit
which I couldn't find anywhere. I used a dremel instead. Had to make some minor
drilling on the bars to make fit.

Very happy with the
bars. Look great with the top down. Also, tightened up the chasis alot and got
rid of alot of rattles and squeeks from chassis flex.

Difficult to remove
without leaving damage

Boss Frog double
hoop roll bar

[2/19/2003] Reviewed
by: Al Hollingsworth - IndyAl@aol.com

Applicable to: '90
- '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter

A functional roll
bar with style.

It was a challenge,
but the completed project was a reward in itself.

If you are interested
in a real Roll Bar, but you also want some style, then you should look at the
Boss Frog double hoop roll bar. The workmanship is first class. The installation
does take time, but then again any Roll Bar worthwhile will take time. I installed
the Boss Frog with some help in four hours taking our time and making sure everything
was just right. I then took an additional two hours of cutting and fitting the
trim pieces giving the installation a completed and finished look. I highly
recommend the Boss Frog double hoop roll bar. Al Hollingsworth (Indyal@aol.com)

Difficult to remove
without leaving damage

Boss Frog dual hump
roll bar

[2/9/2003] Reviewed
by: Ben Upton - supermiataman@hotmail.com

Applicable to: '90
- '97 '99 +

The only dual hump
roll bar I've seen for the miata. Looks like a stlye bar but has been tested
and is a real roll bar.

Excellent product,
it took me 5hrs and 45 mins to do the install, and it looks great. haven't tested
it yet, but I don't plan on it!!

Purchased from Team
Miata, was one of the first bars made, received promptly. It was a long ordeal
to install but the instructions were excellent, so it simplified things greatly.